Pune- The Shining Star of Maharashtra

By Murari Chaturvedi, Editor-in-Chief, Accommodation Times

Ninth most populous city ‘Pune’ is the second largest city in Maharashtra and also the 101st largest city in the world by population. In the 18th Century Pune became the political centre of the Indian subcontinent as the seat of Peshwas. Pune is also the cultural capital of Maharashtra. The city is also known for its manufacturing and automobile industries as well as for research institute of information technology (IT) education, management and training. In the proposed expansion 28 new villages are to be merged in PMC limits. The automotive sector is prominent here and is home to Automobile Research Association. All sectors of the automotive industry are separated, from two wheelers and autoricshaws to cars, tractors, tempos, excavators and trucks. Automotive companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Kinetic Motors, Force Motors, Land Rover, Jaguar, Renault, Volkswagen and Fiat have set up Greenfield facilities near Pune making it Motor city of India. As one of the largest cities of India and major centre of learning with several colleges and universities, Pune is emerging as prominent location for IT and manufacturing, Pune has the eighth largest economy and the sixth highest per capita income in the country. The meeting incentives, confrancing, exhibition, trade is expected to get a boost once the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC) complete in 2017. The 97 hectares PIECC will boost a seating capacity of 20,000 with a floor area of 1,39,931 square feet. It will have seven exhibition centres, a convention centre, a golf course, a five star hotel, a business complex, shopping malls and residential complex. Pune is epitome of Marathi culture and its ethos, which emphasizes on education, art, music, theatre etc. Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) commenced in 2002 to bring the celebrities from film industry, Now a prominent annual event is held every January, Pune International Film Festival has become one of the major tourist attractions of the country PIFF has also gained significance in the silver screen fraternity due to the presence of Film and Television institute of India and National Film Archives of India. The first Ganesh Festival was first celebrated in 1894 in Pune by Bal Gangadhar Tilak with the intention of integrity of caste and religion. With all these glittering events and varied industries Pune like any other big cities in India is also infested with the spreading slums. The affordable housing concept if implemented it can make the city Pune as one of the number one city in India.